Shoe heel applying apparatus



April 14', 1959 T. D. DELL SHOE HEEL lAPPLYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 10. 1957 FIG. l.

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ATTORNEYS April 14, 1959 T. D. DELL sHoE HEEL APPLYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1o, 1957 FIG. 5

United States Patent O SHOE HEEL APPLYING APPARATUS Thomas D. Dell, New York, N.Y., assgnor of fifty percent to Palizzio, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application December 10, 1957, Serial No. 701,816

11 Claims. (Cl. 1-32) The present invention relates to a machine for applying or nailing heels on shoes and is concerned primarily with the provision of such a machine that is largely automatic and simplifies to the utmost degree the work of the operator of such a machine.

It is now common practice in the aflixing of a heel in `position on a shoe to rst secure the heel in position by an adhesive, whereupon a nail is driven through the sole of the shoe into the heel. The present invention is concerned with the driving of such a nail.

Irf a nail is to be driven, it is evident that a machine of this character must include as a characteristic and essential element a nail driver. Moreover, it is highly important that the heel -be securely held in position as the nail is driven. Thus, a highly important object of this invention is to provide new and improved means for securely holding the heel in position as the nail is driven.

More in detail, the invention has as an object the provision, in a heel-nailing or applying machine of the character noted, heel-holding means comprising two spaced holding elements which are designed to receive the heel therebetween. These members are floatingly mounted on a movable carrier or reciprocating rod. When this rod is moved or pulled downwardly by mechanism to be hereinafter described in detail, the heel is `securely gripped between the holding elements; and, due to the floating mounting which carries these members, the heel is securely held in position.

Another important object is to provide, in a heel-nailing machine of the type indicated, new and improved mechanism for effecting movement of the heel-gripping ele- `ments aforesaid.

` Another important object of this invention is to provide .control mechanism whereby the operation of the nail driver is synchronized with that of the heel gripper. Thus, just as the heel gripper is moved into its nal heelholding position, the nail driver is automatically started into operation to drive the nail. This end is achieved by utilizing actuating means that is affected by the final portion of the stroke of the mechanism carrying the heelgripping elements so that, just as this carrying mechanism completes its stroke, the actuating means is atected to operate fluid pressure means for driving the nail driver.

In order to provide 4for maximum productivity on the part of a workman, the heel-nailing machine of this invention may include two complete nail-driving mech- -anisms which are so interrelated that an operator may iirst place a last with a shoe and heel thereon in position 'on one nail driver and start it into operation, at which `vide a pair otf heel-nailing machines of the character aforesaid with appropriate control mechanism for automatically interrelating the operations of the two heel-nailing units in the manner aforesaid.

A somewhat more detailed object of the invention is to provide, in a heel-nailing machine of the character aforesaid, nail drivers which are actuated by a iluid medium such as compressed air. A further object is to provide, in such a machine, actuating elements for heelgripping means which are also actuated by a iluid medium such as `compressed air. The use of a fluid me-dium as the actuating .force particularly lends itself to the automatic control aforesaid.

A further and more detailed object in view is to provide, in a heel-nailing machine of the character indicated, and which includes a pair of complete heel-nailing units, a pair of control valves for the nail-driving elements and a similar valve that is common to the actuating devices for the heel-gripping means. These valves `are properly corelated with a source of supply of uid medium under pressure, microswitches, and foot treadles to achieve the semiautomatic operation above described.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a heel-nailing machine which may include two complete heel-nailing units each including a nail driver, heel-gripping means, fluid means for actuating the nail drivers and the heel-grippers, and control mechanism automatically co-relating the cooperation of the two units.

For a full `and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may -be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view in front elevation, with parts broken away, of a heel-nailing machine designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side view with the casing shown in section, being taken about on the plane represented by the line 2 2 of Figure 1 and with the other mechanism in elevation;

Figure 3 is a detail taken from the side about on th plane represented by the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing a last with a shoe thereon, heel and nail, in exploded relation with respect to the part of the machine with which it is immediately associated; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 depicting the heel as gripped and the nail as driven.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and rst more particularly to Figure 3, a last which is intended to carry `a shoe on which a heel is to be nailed is represented at l10. The shoe is designated 11 and has a sole 12 onto which a heel 13 is to be alxed. As mentioned above, the heel 13 is rst secured in position on the sole 12 by using an adhesive. The joinder is intended to be finally completed by driving a nail, such as shown at 14, through the rsole 12 and into the heel 13.

The last 10 is formed with a vertical cylindrical passage 15 which snugly receives an upstanding tubular member or support 16 carried by tubular pedestal 17 that is secured by a bracket 18 to an upper frame plate 19. The tubular member 16 has an upwardly opening passageway or bore 20 in which reciprocates va nail driver or plunger 21. This nail driver takes the form of the rod illustrated that is carried by a piston which is located within a cylinder 22. The latter is supported from the top frame part 19 by a hanger plate 23 that lis in turn carried by legs 24.

neen/139 over the tubular support member 16, the heel 13 must be securely gripped and held in position as the nail 14 is driven. For this purpose, a pair of generally parallel spaced cylindrical holdin-g members 25 and 26 (Figure l.) are provided. These members 25 and 26 are rotatably mounted 'on Vstud shafts 27 and 28; and the latter are in turn carried by a cross arm 29.V The members 25 and `26k are of a softV resiliently compressible or yield material such as `rubber,`sponge rubber, o r the like; and the front face of `the connecting arm 29, in which confronts the heel 13, is also covered with this same material as shown at `30 in Figure Vl.

-The arm 29 is swingably or rockably mounted on a pivot pin 31 (Figure 4) which is in turn carried by a plate -32 that isV pivotally mounted adjacent its lower edge, as indicated at 33, between ears 34 that project from la c arrier 35. A setscrew, shown at 36, is mounted in a threaded opening at the upper edge of the plate 32 and has a free edge which abuts `the carrier 35. A tension coil spring 37 (Figure 2) has one end anchored to 'the carrier 35 as shown at 38 and its other end to the upper portion of the plate 32, as indicated at 39. There is one of these coil springs at each side of the carrier 35 and plate32; and the tendency of these springs is to pull the ppper edge of the plate 32 inwardly to the point where the f ree end of the setscrew 36 engages the carrier 3S. `Thus it evident that the angular position ofthe plate maybe adjusted through the medium ofthe set- Screvv 36. I i H I y leferringnow again to Figure 4, it will be noted that the carrier 35 is slidably mounted on a rod 40 and has .a rearwardly projecting horizontal ear 41 formed ,with threaded opening 42 which receives a'rotary threaded adjusting stem 43. The lower end of the latter is received in a socket 44 formed in a protuberance 45 on a link 46 that carries kthe rod 40. The upper end of kthe screw stem 43 is formed with a pair of spaced annular shoulders 47 and 48vbetween which are received a block 49 that yis carried by the upper end of the rod 40 between ,another pair of shoulders 0 and 51. The block 49 is formed with a vertical passage 52 which receives the rod 40 and another vertical passage 53 which receives the ,screw stem'43. A locking screw is shown at 54 for locking the block 49 in position on the rod 40. The screw stem 43 is continued up above the shoulder ring 47 and at its upper free end carries a handwheel 55 vvwhich is non-.rotatably mounted thereon and which may ,be availed ofto rotate this screwstem 43 and thus adjust l`the positionof the carrier on the rod 40.

A Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, the top frame plate 19 is shown as formed with a slot k56 through whichthe link'46 passes and ,which slot is somewhat larger than the link 46. Depending from the lower face of the frame plate 19 adjacent to the rear edge of the slot `5,6 is a bracket 57 which carries a roller .58 that en- 4gagesvthe rear edge of the link 46. A tension y'coil spring .59,.has one end secured to ythe link 46 as shown at 60 `and itsA other end to an eye 61 carried by an angleiron 62 `that is mounted at the rear edge of the top frame .plate 19. This spring 59 normally exerts a tendency .pulling the rearedge of the link 46 against the roller58.

Still referring to Figure 2, the frame of Vthe machine Vincludes a rear plate 63 on the inner face of which is Vmounted a guide 64. Passing through this guide 64 is `another link 65 the upper Yend of which is pivotally connected as indicated at66 to the link 46 The lower end of thelink 65 is bifurcated as indicated at A66; and received in this lbifurcated end 66 is a swinging arm 67. The rear end of the ,arm 67 lis pivotally mounted, as indicated at 68, on a lbracket 69 mounted on the inner face of the` rear frame wall 63. The arm 67 lis formed with -a slot' 70` through vwhichlpasses apin 71 carried bythe vbifurcated end 66. The end of the arm 67 yremote from its'pivotal-mounting-68 is formed ,with another `4s lot 72 which receives a pin 73 carried by the bifurcated end 74 of a piston rod 75. This .rod .75 is operatively .com nected to a piston (not illustrated) that is operatively mounted within a hydraulic cylinder 76a. This cylinder 76a is carried by a bracket 77 that is secured to the upper face of a bottom frame plate 78.

Briefly summing up at this point, it is noted that, as the piston rod 75 is actuated by the fluid medium within the cylinder 76a, it is moved either upwardlyV or downwardly, as the case maybe, and the motion transmitted through the arm 67 to `the linkvv 65, and from vthe latter to the link 46. The link 46 will also be moved upwardly and downwardly; but its movement is compounded 'th'e spring 59 and roller 58 so that the cylindrical elements 27 and 2S are movedinto or out of gripping engagement with the heel 13.- Y

The mechanism so far described is that of one heelnailing unit at one side of the mechanism disclosed in Figure l; namely, the right side. It is to be understood that this mechanism is duplicated at the left-hand side of Figure l; and it is believed unnecessary to unduly lengthen the specification by here repeating a detailed description of these parts for the left-hand side of Figure l. However, for the purposes of describing the control vmechanism and the automatic operation, the hydraulic cylinder for the nail driver at the left-hand side of Figure l will be identified as 22A and the hydraulic cylinder `for the heel grippers at theleft-hand side of Figure 1 as 76A A l y i As shown in Figure 2, a supporting bracket 79.has a yfoot 79a that is anchored to the inner face of the rear frame wall 63. This bracket 79 extends forwardly and has another depending foot 79b to which is secured'a pressure regulator vor control 80. A conduit 81vleadfs into the upper end of the pressure regulator 8 0 and extends through an opening 82 in the rear frame wall 63 to an appropriate source of Vsupply of a fluid medium under pressure, such as compressed air.

Connected to the upper end of the pressure-regulator cylinder is a horizontally arranged T fitting 83. Extending upwardly from this tting 83 is a conduit v84 that is .connected to a vertically arranged T tting 85. From vone side of this T litting 85 a conduit 86 extends tov an inlet, shown at 87, of a control valve 88. This control `valve 88 has an upper end, shown at 89, that is connected by a conduit 90 with a port 91 at the top of the cylinder 22. Control valve 88 also has a lower port 92 connected by conduits 93 to a port 94 at the lower end of .the cylinder 22. v

Likewise, a conduit 95 extends from the left-handside (speaking with reference to the showing of Figure l) of the T fitting 85 to an inlet port 96 of `another control valve 97. This control valve 97 is operatively associated with the cylinder 22A through the medium `of conduits 98 and 99, which are connected to the upper .endsi'and -lower ends of cylinder 22A, respectively. i i' ,Extending downwardly from the T fitting 83 is .an- Yother conduit 100 which carries an `operating member ffor Ypressure regulation as shown at -101 anda main control ,or cutoff valve 102. From the lower end .of this conduit 100 another conduit 103 rextends to an inlet port A104 of a control valve 105. This control valve 105 is substantially the same in construction as the control valves 88 and97, although it is common to the actuating `cylinders 76 and As shown in Figure l, the control valve 105- basa vcylindrical wall 106, a top Vhead 107, and a bottom end 108. Mounted for reciprocation within the valve 105is a reciprocating valve rod 109 carrying three valve members 110, 111, and 112 which slidably engage the cylindrical wall 106. v The upper end of the rod 109 is slidably received in an opening formed in the top head 107; while the lower end is slidably received in an opening formed'in the bottom end 108. yAn expansionI coil 4spring '1 '13"-"is .interpqsed between .the bottoms@ 108 and' ,the valxe member 112 and normally exerts a tendency urging tne valve rod 109 upwardly.

The valve rod 109 is continued down beyond the bottom end 108, as indicated at 114, and at its lower free end is pivotally connected as indicated at 115 to an actuating arm 116. This arm 116 is pivotally mounted as indicated at 117 on a bracket 118 that upstands from the bottom frame wall 78. One end of the arm 116 is pivotally connected, as indicated at 119, to a link 120 the lower end of which is pivotally connected as iudicated at 121 to an arm 122, the other end of which is drivably connected to a shaft 123 that is pivotally mounted on the front frame wall 124 as shown in Figure 2. In front of this front frame wall 124 the shaft 123 carries a foot pedal 125.

The other end of the arm 116 is pivotally connected as indicated at 126 to a link 127, the lower end of which Ais pivotally connected, as indicated at 128, to an arm 129 under pressure from the conduit 103. This air under pressure is now conducted by conduit 141 to the lower end of the cylinder 76A. Thus the heel grippers at the left-hand side of Figure 1 are moved upwardly into the position releasing the heel; while the piston in the cylinder 76 is urged downwardly to position the heel grippers 25 and 26 in the right-hand unit downwardly into gripping engagement with the heel. As this action is completed, the arm 67 in the last part of its downward movement or stroke engages the actuating arm 149 of the microswitch 148 to energize the solenoid 142 and thus pull the valve rod therein downwardly against the inthat is drivably mounted on a shaft 130 that is drivably mounted in the front wall 124 and which carries a second 4foot pedal 131.

The cylindrical Wall 106 of the control valve 105 is formed with a pair of exhaust ports 132 and 133. It 'is also formed with a port at 134 which carries a T fitting 135 and a second port at 136 which carries another T fitting 137. From one end of the T tting 135 Aa conduit 138 extends to the upper end of the cylinder 76A. From the other side of this T fitting 135 another conduit 139 extends to the lower end of the cylinder 76. From one side of the fitting 137 a conduit 140 extends to the upper end of the cylinder 76; while from the other side of the tting 137 a conduit 141 extends to the lower end of the cylinder 76A.

Each of the control valves 88 and 97 has exhaust ports comparable to the exhaust ports 132 and 133 and, at the other side, ports comparable to the ports 134 and 136. Moreover, each of the control valves 88 and 97 includes piston rods that are biased upwardly by springs corresponding to the spring 108; and these valves 88 and 97 are provided with solenoids 142 and 143, respectively, which when energized pull the piston rod downwardly against the influence of the spring therein.

Extending outwardly from one side of the cylinder 76A at the top is a supporting plate 144 which carries a normally closed microswitch 145 having an actuating arm 146 that is located beneath the arm 67 so as to be actuated thereby as the latter reaches a lower limit of movement. Likewise, a supporting plate 147 is carried by the cylinder 76 at the top and in turn supports another normally closed microswitch 148 having an actuating arm 149 that is located beneath the arm 67 of that unit to be actuated thereby as it reaches its lower limit of movement.

The microswitch 145 is operatively connected by suitable wiring to the solenoid 143 of the control Valve 97; while the microswitch 148 is similarly connected to the solenoid 142 of the control valve 88.

Operation While the manner in which the heel-nailing machine of this invention operates is believed to be obvious from the illustration of the drawings and description of parts given it may be briefly described as follows:

With the apparatus in the condition depicted in Figure 1, the operator is working on the right-hand mechanism and will have removed a shoe, on which a heel has been nailed by a previous operation, from the tubular supporting member 16 and then places another nail in the bore 20 of the tubular support 16, and last 10 with a shoe 11 and heel 13 adhesively secured thereto on the tubular support 16. The treadle 125 is now depressed to move the piston rod 109 within the control valve 105 upwardly. As this action takes place, the exhaust port 133 is closed and the valve member 111 moved above the port 104 leaving the port 136 open to receive air uence of the spring therein. As this action takes place, the lowermost exhaust port is closed and the port 42 is opened to receive air under pressure from the port 87 and conduct it through conduit 93 to the lower end of the cylinder 22 and thus urge the piston carrying the nail-driving rod 21 upwardly to drive the nail.

The shoe with the heel nailed thereon is then removed from the unit at the left-hand side of Figure l and replaced with a new lasted shoe 11 having a heel 13 to be nailed and the treadle 131 depressed. v Referring further to the condition of Fig. l, compressed air under pressure passes from the cylinder through `T fitting 83, conduit 84, fitting 85, and conduit 95 to the inlet shown at 96 of the control valve 97. Moreover, the solenoid 143 is de-energized to allow upward movement of the piston rod within the valve 97 by its spring to close the lowermost exhaust port and admit air under pressure through the conduit 99 and beneath the piston of the cylinder 22a and thus actuate the nail driven 21. At the same time, the control valve is in the position depicted in Fig. l in which the upper exhaust port 132 is closed by the valve member while the port 134 is opened so that air under pressure coming from the conduitl 103 passes intothe control valve 105 through the port 104 and out to the tting 135. From the latter the air under pressure is conducted by the conduit 138 in the upper part of the cylinder 76a above the'piston therein to move this piston downwardly which, through the linkage 67, 65 and 46, pulls the heel grippers 25 and 26 downwardly. At the same time, air under pressure. is conducted from the T tting through the conduit 139 to the lower end of the cylinder 76 beneath the piston therein to move the heel lifter 25 and 26 upwardly. Moreover, as the solenoid 142 is energized in this position, the piston within the control valve 88 is moved downward against its spring to close the uppermost exhaust port and admit air under pressure through the conduit 90 to the upper end of the cylinder 22 and thus urge the piston which carries the nail driving rod 21 downwardly.

While a preferred specic embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms, and devices illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In heel-applying apparatus, the combination comprising: support means for a shoe having a heel positioned thereon, fastener-driving means in said support means for driving a fastener into said shoe and heel, a pair of spaced yieldable elements mounted for free rocking movement relative to each other about an axis extending between said elements and moveable together into and out of holding engagement with said positioned heel to retain said heel in position on said supported shoe, and cooperating operating mechanisms respectively associated with said fastener-driving and heel-holding means for driving a fastener into said shoe and heel in the proper timed relation when the heel is held rm by said heelholding means.

2. Heel-applying apparatus according to claim l, said v tipe-rating mechanisms ,comprising irst uid means coni1" ted 'Ito 'said elements 'for eiecting their movement 1tcgiward and away fromsaid positioned heel, second uid means kconnected yto saidffastener-driving means for actuating thelatter, and means connected between said iirst andpsecond iinid means to operate 4the latter in said timed ifelation with respect to each other.

' '3l Heel applying apparatus according to claim 1, said yieldable elements 'comprising a pair of generally parallel L'cylindricalmembers. each mounted for independent axial .rgtatiQn- 4. In a heel applying apparatus having means for supporting a shoe and v'positioned heel, the improvement fcomprising a p air of spaced elements mounted for free ,rbckingy ymovement relative to each other about an axis ,extending between said elements rand for movement into aii'uiput`of:v rm engagement Vwith opposite sides of a positioned heel.

5. Heel applying apparatus according to claim 4, said spaced elements comprising a pair of generally parallel l lcylindrical members 'having yieldable external surfaces, and Vsaid axis of rocking movement extending generally ,parallel to said members.

i Heel applying apparatus according to claim 4, said .cylindrical members leach being mounted for independent axial rotation.l

A"7. In heel-applying apparatus, the combination ,comv- Aprising: a pairofsnpport means each adapted to support :a'shoe having a'heel` positioned thereon, fastener-driving means in'each of Bsaid vsupportmeans' for'diiving a fastener ,into theadjacentsupported shoe Aand heel, a pairuof heelholding means mounted for v.rocking movement r'elative fto"each,otbelr about jan axis extending between said heellholdingm'eans and for movement together into vand out v'of',liciildinfg'engagement `with a respective positioned heel 'to retain its respective heel in position on the adjacent shoe,y A-blgierlating means connected to' 4each associated fastener-driving land heel-holding means for driving a rfastener into the adjacent shoe and heel when the latter is vheld firm by the lrespective heel-holding means, and Nmeans interconnecting l said operating means to maintain operation `of the latter in .an Aiut-of-'phase timed relation ,'vfvithfr'espect to each other, to thereby enable an operator k,to place a shoe'and heel on one of said support means :while a lheel is' being fastenednon the other of said s up- ;pprt mens: r

`8. ,In heel-applying apparatus, the combination cpxn prising: support means 'for a shoe having `a heel p tionedthereon, fastener-driving means'in said' support 'means for driving a' fastener into said shoe and heelgcarf rier meansvrnonted for movement toward and away yfrom said positioned heel, a pair of spaced yieldableelements carried by said carrier means for rocking movement relative to each other about an axis extending be tween said elements and for movement into and ontfof firm engagement with opposite sides lof said `pnsitioned heel to retain the latter inposition, and cooperating', oper'- ating mechanisms respectively connected to Vsaidifna'steneif driving and carrier means for vdriving affastener into 'said fslioe and heel when the latter is held Iirm by said spaced elements.

l9. Heel-applying apparatus according to claim 8, said `spaced elements comprising a pair of generally parallel, cylindrical members Vhaving yieldable "external surfaces".

1,0'. Heel-applying apparatus according Vto claim 9, said operating mechanisms comprising first fluid means connected to said carrier means for electing its movement toward and vaway fromsaid positioned heel, second iiuid means connected to'said Afastener-drivingmeans'foi' actuf [ating thelattenand means connected between said'iir'st and second fluid means to operate the latter in said timed `relatim with respecttoreach other. 11. A.I {eel-applying apparatus according to claim 9, said ,support means -comprising a `fixed fupstant'in-g` relerie'rit adapted ,to be received in a lastr carrying vra'shne'an'd positioned Yheel to support the same, saidl npstanding element being forrn'edy with an internal upwardly 4iperiii'ig vpassageway for receiving a lfastener, and a driver mnte'd insaid passageway and operatively connected to' said second fluid Ameans of said operating mechanisms @for driving said received fastener into said shoe 'and"h'eel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,895 yPope Jan. 31, 1933 1,896,125 Standish Feb. 7, 1933 2,594,728 Campione Apr. 29,1952 2,740,118 Gadd a API".v 3:, 1 ,9'56 

